Nigeria

2019

  
Journalists in Abuja gather on March 9 during Nigeria's gubernatorial and state assembly elections to report on a press briefing at the Civil Society Situation Room, which collected information from thousands of election observers, including on attacks against the press. (Jonathan Rozen/CPJ)

Journalists in Nigeria detained, harassed, and assaulted while covering state elections

Abuja, Nigeria, March 13, 2019 — Nigerian authorities should investigate and hold accountable those responsible for the detention, harassment, and assault of journalists nationwide during the March 9 gubernatorial and state assembly elections, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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The broadcast room of the Jay FM radio station in Jos, Plateau state, Nigeria, sits empty following a March 1, 2019, shutdown order by the National Broadcasting Commission. (Jay FM/Mangna Yusuf)

Nigerian authorities should allow Jay FM in Jos, Plateau state, to broadcast

Abuja, Nigeria, March 12, 2019–Nigerian authorities should lift the ban on Jay FM radio station in the city of Jos in Plateau state and stop trying to intimidate its staff, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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People gather around a newspaper stand in Kano, northern Nigeria, on February 24, 2019. Journalist Obinna Don Norman was recently charged under Nigeria's 2015 cybercrime act. (Ben Curtis/AP)

Journalist arrested, charged under cybercrime law in Nigeria

New York, March 7, 2019 — Nigerian authorities should immediately drop charges against journalist Obinna Don Norman, release him from prison, and reform the 2015 cybercrime act to ensure it is not used to prosecute journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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An electoral worker prepares identity card and biometric verification readers, at the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Kano, northern Nigeria, on February 14, 2019. CPJ joined a call for Nigeria to ensure that internet and social media services remain connected during the upcoming elections. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

CPJ joins call for Nigeria to ensure internet and social media services remain connected during elections

The Committee to Protect Journalists joined more than 15 rights organizations and the #KeepItOn Coalition to call for Nigerian authorities to ensure that internet and social media services remain connected during upcoming elections, and safeguard internet speeds of websites and messaging applications. In early February, Nigeria’s federal government denied rumors of plans to shut down…

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A campaign poster for Nigeria's incumbent president and candidate Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, pictured in Lagos, on January 4. At least three journalists were injured by stray bullets after a fight broke out at a campaign rally for the ruling APC party. (AFP/Pius Utomi Ekpei)

In Nigeria, three journalists injured by gunfire while covering political rally

New York, January 10, 2019–Nigerian authorities should rigorously investigate violence at a political rally in Lagos on January 8, during which at least three journalists were injured by gunfire, and ensure the safety of reporters covering political events, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Members of the military pictured outside the Daily Trust offices in Abuja on January 6. Two of the paper's offices were raided, and one journalist is detained. (Daily Trust/Abubakar Adam Ibrahim)

Nigeria’s military raids Daily Trust offices, arrests editor

New York, January 7, 2019­­­–Nigerian authorities should immediately release Uthman Abubakar, an editor of the privately owned Daily Trust, return equipment seized in raids on the paper’s offices, and cease the intimidation of news outlets covering the conflict in Nigeria’s northeast, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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2019